That is neat! I always wanted to build/invest in a desktop mill to do circuit boards. Please let us know your results!
@mohit I added on a digital speed controller for precise control of the router bit speed for cutting T6069 Aluminum at lower rpm.
Its been a really good machine so far.
@RWB … nice one. Others have gone before you of course and with quite some success, too. I’ve even seen videos of much larger mills, doing component pick and place! (Very slowly, of course.)
An XY milling machine is something I have been meaning to get around to building for years. And I need a lathe.
I was also going to make a pick and place machine, for in-home small production runs of PCBs. Found this openpnp project, which was already pretty functional a couple years back. No idea where it’s at now because he seems to have taken down a bunch of videos and updates from the old Google Code site. Might have started getting too much noise from an overly excited support community. The project is Java based, includes X/Y/Z/A/B/C stepper/valve control (via external stepper controller), machine vision technology and it has some nice innovations for the home hobbyist, for saving costs on expensive component dispensers and stuff.
Then there’s 3D printing. OMG. I am so getting left behind in that scene, too! I really need to get something happening. I like the stereo lithography methods. Been playing with lasers, mirrors and cheap Chinese galvanometers lately. But the results have been very disappointing, due to really inaccurate cheapo galvos, due in turn to budget restraints. Seems that decent galvanometers cost a small fortune. {sigh} Now I’m considering moving a mirror around using steppers and a typical XY platform. The theory is that a light weight mirror should be able to whiz around with high accuracy and speed, compared to a great big heavy PLA extruder. Dunno. Something seems “ugly” about the idea. We shall see.
Meanwhile, I’m not convinced that the current state of the art with using extrusion is up to where I need it, especially for the costs involved. Three grand is a lot of money for thing that looks like a lot of fun but at the end of the day, cannot really produce anything professional looking. Too damned fussy. That’s my problem. But I do need to jump in and do something, soon.
So many projects. So little time and resource! LOL Life goes on.
Yeah, keeping a lead-based product with your food just seems like a bad idea. But there are lead-free solder pastes available.
Tell me about it brother! I have a 3D printer coming, large 300lb XYZ robot in my garage that needs to be disassembled and brought into my basement (not sure what I'm going to turn it into yet) but it has servo controllers on it so it might be quite accurate for something cool, WANT to get a laser cutter, paper/vinyl cutter, pick n place, reflow oven... turning my basement lab into a factory would be SOOOoooOOo cooool!
Agreed and +1 for Man cave fridge ... I have one... only thing in it is leaded solder paste 
I keep my lead solder paste in the kitchen fridge. I put a label on it that says “Tasty Sandwich Spread” so it’s inconspicuous. 
I like a good restrictive paste on my roast beef–it keeps the cheese from sliding off! And when I reflow the cheese, a good paste helps it suck right down onto the roast beef. 
Seriously for a second: I don’t think the lead-free solders are particularly more healthy than leaded solders, we just know that lead accumulates in the environment in a way that is hard to get rid off and hurts people later on. Bismuth in Tin/Bismuth solder is “safer” than lead but not “safe” in an absolute sense. Even tin can give you temporary respiratory problems. The acidic flux is another not-so-healthy thing to be around. Go read the MSDS.
Just wash your hands after handling the stuff and you’ll be fine.
Fun Fact: Lead was the first no-calorie sugar substitute! Early Romans would use it to sweeten beverages and dessert. As you can imagine, mortality rates were high with this group. The more you know!
DIY PCB manufacturing tips (toner transfer method): http://dangerousprototypes.com/2014/04/06/diy-pcb-manufacturing-tips/